FESTIVALS | FESTIVITIES

Feasts of the Holy Spirit

Location9700- ANGRA DO HEROÍSMODistrict:Terceira County :Angra do HeroísmoParish:SéContacts

The Feasts of the Holy Spirit were introduced in Portugal in the fourteenth century, most likely under the influence of Queen St. Elizabeth. The cult was brought to the Azores by the first settlers and various reasons, such as natural disasters and the isolation of the island itself, contributed to preserve and enhance the tradition of the Holy Spirit. Over time, each island has been adapting the cult of the festivities to his own history, creating its own peculiarities and rituals. On the island of Terceira, the celebrations are especially colorful and lively, and include two types of ceremonies: 'Funções' and 'Bodos'. The 'Funções', which take place in the eight Sundays following the Passover, are organized by "emperors" that exhibit in their homes the crown of the Lord and pray the rosary every night together with family and friends. On the Thursday before the Sunday of coronation, which is called "Day of the calf," the emperor presents the cattle for the function and as alms to those who are in greatest need. The parade of calves adorned with paper flowers, through the streets, is accompanied by songs and rhymes referring to the emperor. In Sunday of coronation, a procession leads the "emperor" to the church where the coronation takes place. It then passes to the function - the dinner hosted by the emperor, consisting of a rich menu of soup, bread, meat stew, rump, sweet bread, sweet rice and wine. The 'bodos' are held on Sunday of Pentecost and of Trinity and are organized by groups of men, called "stewards", who make the distribution of bread and wine by the empire where the crown of the Holy Spirit is exhibited.

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